A recent change in state law means new rules for when drivers must stop for school buses.

Passed during the 2026 legislative session, House Bill 7 requires all drivers on highways with four or more lanes to stop for a bus with its stop arm extended and lights flashing unless that road is divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median. Stops are required on all lanes for four-lane highways that include a painted median, paved median or center turn lane.

Drivers in both directions still need to stop on two-lane roads when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students.

Prior to this legislation, drivers on any road with four or more lanes did not need to stop if a bus had its stop arm extended and was picking up or dropping off students in the opposite direction. Now, all drivers must stop unless there is a divider between the sets of lanes, such as a raised concrete barrier or a grass median. This is an important change to help increase the safety of the almost 400,000 students who ride a bus to school each day.